Place: Reviews & Ratings

Used to live within walking distance, but moved and hadn't been back for a long time until last night. Went for a burger deal that was going on and had 2 cellar Aventinus and a local brown on tap. Great seasonal beer selection as usual; packed as usual, but got a table within 20 mins; spotty service, but doesn't matter...they are always short-staffed and the servers do the best they can.

A neat bar with an outstanding selection for a reasonable price. The service leaves some to be desired (it almost seemed like the servers wanted to be elsewhere). The bartender was very knowledgeable and we had a great conversation about upcoming releases and his philosophy on what to put on tap.

It doesn't have the selection of Capital Alehouse, nor the quirkiness of Mekong, but, as far as I'm concerned, this is the quintessential neighborhood beer pub. Yes it is small, but that lends an ambience that the bigger places can't match. The historic architectural details (original pressed-tin ceiling since before those came back in style, etc) coupled with the tacky string lights and Elvis kitsch, all located in the heart of one of Richmond's great neighborhoods, make this place a personal favorite. It isn't perfect, and I can't dispute comments about the size or the table service when things are busy, but what it lacks for in these areas it more than makes up for in bar service, vibe, and beer. In a sense, having a limited number of taps to work with is a blessing. For lack of a better phrase, the beer offerings are well-curated. I will concur with a previous review that Victory and Bells do seem to have a perennial presence among the draft offerings, but I've never found this to be a problem. And, for the money, they've got the best burgers in town.

If you're looking for a massive selection or amazing food, go somewhere else. But, if you are looking for a low-key, neighborhood beer pub experience, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a better spot south of Philadelphia. (1,299 characters)

Nice, comfortable neighborhood bar, very small, about 8 tables, plus about 12 seats at the bar. The food is above average bar food, with a few interesting menu items. Staff is friendly.

They do not serve the common MPB; so you will have to drink real beer here.

For a small place they have an amazing selection. They have about 6 taps and usually one cask. They do serve a lot of Bells and Victory, but mix in regional and national small brewers and local Richmond beers.

They also have an extensive list of bottled beer. Their prices are very reasonable, especially considering how small the place is, no economy of scale to get lower prices.

Good place to sit and have a decent beer and bite to eat. (705 characters)

The physical bar is small which forces you to interact w/the people next to you which I found refreshing b/c I got to learn about the local beer scene.

The bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, & quick w/a sample if you were undecided on what to get. They had 15 rotating taps of both craft and high-end imports plus a more substantial bottle list, all at very wallet-friendly prices (at least compared to NYC).

I was a big fan of this place & the only drawback I found was that it closes at 1am.

If I'm ever back in RVA, I will make it a point to stop here again. (634 characters)

I stopped in with a co-worker while in Richmond on business. The place is a local hangout in the downtown area. It has a laid back and easy going feel to it. The bartender did a very nice job of greeting us as soon as we hit the stools. He offered food and beer menus for us to peruse as he finished pouring a few more beverages. They offered an IPA on cask, which I found to be rather unique. I sampled it and it was smooth as silk. I also enjoyed a Oak Aged Yeti on draft, and it was perfect. My co-worker ordered a pizza with shrimp and andouille sausage. He gave me a peice, and I gotta say the wheel was great. As for the prices, this place being near the VCU campus I anticipated the prices being in the near expensive to expensive range. However, the prices were just right. If you get the chance, you should take a visit to this place and be sure to get the pizza. (872 characters)

Taphouse is a small local bar in Richmond that caters to beer lovers. This is definitly a beeradvocate bar and don't expect to find any macro-brews here. A slogan on the wall reads, "No Crap on Tap."

Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Taphouse is very friendly and lively. The bar is definitly on the small side, so that could cause a seating issue. However, the people there are good beer people (usually) and anyone ordering a Bud Bottle tends to get the stink eye. The only drawback sometimes is that the music can be way too loud, but overall I find the place to be very accomidating.

Quality: The quality of the beer at Taphouse is great. I haven't had an issue with skunked beer or out of date bottles.

Service: The service at the Taphouse is excellent. The bartender is very knowledgable about beer and can offer recommendations to anyone looking for a certain style of beer. The Taphouse also makes beer-cider mixes, which the bartender is extremely skilled at making.

Selection: The beer menu at Taphouse is two pages long, the front featuring roughly 15 taps and the back featuring roughly 20 bottles. The Taphouse also makes beer-cider mixes that I've previously mentioned. I found the selection to be very good, with a great mix of local beer, good craft brews, and selected imports. Whatever your beer style of choice is, you should be able to find something you like on their menu.

Food: The food is pretty good at Taphouse. Fairly typical pub grub, burgers sandwiches and pizzas. I enjoyed my southwestern pizza and the next time I'm there I will definitly sample one of the burgers. The kitchen is a little small, so be patient when waiting for your food. The food prices are reasonable and the quality is good.

Value: The value is very reasonably priced. The beers range from $3-7 depending on the beer. There is one beer listed at $17, but that is definitly out of the ordinary. Overall though, the prices are on par with any other pub/craft brew haven.

Overall: Overall Taphouse is a great place to go and enjoy a good craft beer. The space is small but accomidating. The real seller of the Taphouse is its selection. The Taphouse doesnt have macro-brews on tap, and the 15 taps they have are all quality craft brew or import selections. This place is definitly a diamond in the rough for any beeradvocates out there. So definitly check out the Taphouse, you will not be disappointed. (2,406 characters)

My wife and I went there tonight and were pleasantly surprised at the food selections, not to mention the beer choices. I had the recommended Bell's 2-Hearted Ale, which was a great choice, followed up by a very smooth Bell's Rye Stout. She had her usual Abita in the bottle, which she enjoyed. Both of our food entrees,the chicken fajitas and the penne pasta with chicken were very good, reasonably priced and a bountiful serving. It was a little noisy though. That would be my only constructive comment. Customers thought they needed to yell to be heard by their friends. We'll be back again later in the summer.

Oh I forgot, they have a Bellehaven Scottish Ale in the bottle. That definitely gave it creditability. (719 characters)

Pretty small but cozy. It has the look of a dive bar but their selection was great. Not a whole lot but what they did have was some excellent craft beers. The night I went they had on tap: DFH Punkin, Blue Mountain The Big DIPA, Sierra Nevada Wet Hop, Wild Goose Snow Goose, BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout, Bells 2 Hearted, and a handful of others that I can't recall but nothing that I wouldn't be happy to drink. Also a nice selection of stuff in bottles. The bartender was very friendly and offered us small samples of stuff we hadn't tried before and spent time talking about some of them. Went on a Monday and all pints were $1 off which was pretty cool. The bill was 20 for a Big DIPA, Wet Hop, and 2 Snow Gooses for my wife and I which seems very reasonable to me. Overall it was a nice relaxed hangout kinda place to chat with friends though I wonder if it could get a little crowded on weekends as it's pretty small. At any rate, I'll be going back again soon and I highly recommend checking this place out. (1,010 characters)

One thing I hate about bars in the south these days is the overwhelming and prolific smokiness of every restaurant bar that serves alcohol. I cannot detract points per se, but, it is really a nuisance. However, in the south, this is standard operations so I cant complain too much. Small and cozy bar with about 10 bar seats and about 10 tables along the right hand wall.

Beer seemed fresh. Service was pretty good. It took awhile for the initial interaction but once the server and I became acquainted, things went smoothly and the beers and food were sent expeditiously and with a smile.

One thing I did like was the variety of beer sizes: They had either a 12oz pour, a 16oz pint, or a 20oz imperial pint, all priced on the menu. Most of the Imps were around $6 and the american pints were about $5. However, on Monday (when I visited), everything is $1 off between 4:30 and 8.

Pretty good selection. At the time they had about 15 drafts and about 15 bottle. I really love cask beers and they had an IPA on cask which was okay (the lines seemed to be a bit unclean, if you ask me).

Food was great. I had a chicken salad that was really good. I cant say I would come back here solely due to the smokiness but if that doesnt bother you, this is a sweet bar. (1,266 characters)

Back before we moved to Boston in 2001, this bar was about 4 blocks from our place in the Fan and we were in here at least 3 times a week. OK, bull$#!+, more like 5...I remember getting my Diners' Club bill one month and realizing what a large percentage of the total the Tap House made up. I walked in and saw Jim the owner and said, "Geez, Jim, I got my Diners Club bill today. It was about $450 and probably $350 was from the Tap House." Being a gracious and generous host, he said, "Well, I'll buy you guys a couple of pints - it's the least I can do. It's probably ALL I'll do, but it's the least I can do."

We get back here a few times a year when visiting family in RIC and C-Ville. I enjoy the vibe of the old metal bar with all of the funky fixtures and kitsch up top, including a Sinatra poster, an Elvis statue and a Sit & Spin (maybe a Homer poster too). They always have good stuff on tap - locals are featured as well as a nice selection of rotating taps to match the season. Not a huge selection but definitely one that can keep you busy for the evening - there used to almost always be at least one thing on cask as well. A lot of the staff is actually still there from when we lived there (and so are the regulars), so there's nice continuity. The owners recognize us from several years ago and are always friendly and helpful with the list. James seems to be the owner we see most now - he and the staff know their malt & hops. He still gives us $#!+ about our intermittent habit of ordering Purple Haze as the last pint of the night when we were ready to pack it in after a particularly long evening at the bar.

We don't usually eat there but the food is a decent notch above standard pub grub; the Baja chicken was always one of our favorites. Service at the tables during prime time can be a little spotty as with anyplace else. Pricing on our most recent visit (update 3/21/2008) seems to have increased - $5.95 for most on tap if memory serves me right. Craft beer prices tend to be a bit inelastic from region to region in comparison to overall cost of living and the Tap House is no exception; looks like the hop shortage isn't helping either. Tunes are solid and eclectic. It's my favorite bar in Richmond and a necessary stop for us when we're back in town. (2,287 characters)

I'll be honest... I loved this place the first couple of times I went there. They have some absolutely amazing brews on tap you will literally not find anywhere else (e.g. '02 Bigfoot for $6, '96 Gales Prize Old Ale in bottle for $10). These brews are served in the proper glassware at the proper temperature... and the 12 or so taps rotate fairly frequently. You can tell that the owner is a beer lover.

That said, the last time I went opened my eyes a bit. Perhaps it was because for once, they didnt have anything spectacular on the beer list, and so I took some time to examine other aspects of this establishment. First, it's tiny, which would typically not bother me. But being tiny + everyone around you smoking + poor ventilation = painful experience. Coming from an ex-smoker, when I say it is smoky, I mean it is pea soup fogginess in there.

Second, unless you're at the bar, the service is ATROCIOUS. The bartenders / waitresses might come around once every 45 minutes or so, and you better know exactly what you want when they get to your table. Also, while not exactly rude, they are certainly not friendly.

A positive note: I have never had the food here, but I have heard it is good, for bar food.

In summation, go here and pray to whichever god you please that there is something interesting on tap, because that is truly the only reason to frequent this establishment. (1,398 characters)

You can always get a good beer here. I have had meals here only three times, avg/avg/good. The "beans and rice" was quite good, I need to try more of their dishes. But you can always get a good beer here, the staff are knowledgeable, and the place is cozy. I prefer coming here to other larger places because it is more intimate (I can walk in here alone and feel comfortable), and prices are compatible or slightly lower. Unlike other "Fan" bars they close at 0100, something in their lease.

10 taps, all quality, and 10 or more bottles to choose from. I suck at remembering names, but I have had Delerium Tremens, Duvel, Sierra Nevada IPA, Victory Hop Wallop...they have some regulars and some that they rotate in and out. I know I can come here and get a good beer (if I don't get here too late and not get a seat). (821 characters)

Stopped in last night for a couple pints, as it's a decent walk from my place. Had yet to check it out, but on the recommendation of a friend decided to go. Enjoyed a cask-conditioned Victory Hop Wallop, as well as some of the Taphouse brew specials, which were okay. The place is not very spacious, but the lighting and atmosphere make for a comfortable, rather than closed-in, experience. The waitress was somewhat attentive, as there were about six of us, some of whom ordered food that came quickly, and the glasses (beers, anyway) consistently stayed full. Okay in this department. The draught and bottle selections were pretty good, not a whole lot of variety in comparison with other beer bars, but at least a solid 10 choices in either form. Overall, I was impressed for a neighborhood hangout/bar, and will likely return as new beers come in and the weather warms up. Definitely worth checking out. (907 characters)

The Taphouse (it's the real one, too, IMHO) is a wonderfully ecclectic place to meet with friends and enjoy a diverse selection of beers.

I am fond of it for many a reason: (most importantly) it almost always has an exceptional selection of draught beers, it's incredibly cozy, warm and relaxed (there's something in those wood walls, eh?), it's an experience every time (I once went there and it was flooded with singing British football fanatics) and the waitstaff care about beer.

Though it does not have the same enormous selection that a larger venue such as Capital Ale House has, it has a great draught and bottle list and an ecclectic uniqueness that is unmatched by any such place I have happened upon. Highly recommended. (738 characters)

I love commercial tap house. It's about a block from my house, and always has a good selction of beer that rotates constantly. The service is quite slow, despite the fact that the place is tiny. I'd recommend ordering 2 beers at once, because you'll probably finish the first by the time the second arrives. The owner is very knowledgable and quite nice, and also likes to buy things specifically to cellar. This past winter, he had a keg of 2002 Bigfoot on cask, and was selling it for only $5.95 a glass. Truly amazing. The food here is also pretty good, and usually has a beer on the menu that pairs well with it.

While the place is loud and dark at night, I find it very cozy, and the back booth is a great place to hang out with friends. The only problem with this bar, is that last call is at midnight. Some wierd ancient law about being across the street from a hospital. (882 characters)

This is a nice place to go for a few drinks before or after eating in the area. There are some pretty good places around, including Konstas right around the corner. They do have live music occasionaly. Theres also an upstairs hangout with some couches and tables.

The beer selection gives you about 12 taps. They have a hand pump that changes out frequently. They also had a Bigfoot barleywine vintage 2002 on tap which was excellent. The server took her time pouring and served in the correct glassware. She was also knowledgeable about lots of craft beers.

We grabbed the wings which were excellent. The quesadillas looked like they were pretty good and the best deal for your money.

Overall I would come back here if in the area but wouldnt make special trips here unless there was something special on tap. With its vacinity to Capital Ale House and Legend, this would be a pick only if you wanted a quiet night out or eating in the area already.

As a side note parking is a pain. Street only and smack in the middle of a residental area. (1,055 characters)

I always make a point to stop here when passing through Richmond. A small dimly lit bar, this little palce has a great selection of beer, a friendly staff and excellent food. Eclectic atmosphere, wood-paneled walls.
Each time I've been there, only a few patrons are present, so the service has been fast and the barstaff has been helpful; even eager to let you taste a brew you're not sure about. They offer different sized beers, based on how much you feel like drinking, how many different kinds of beer you want to try, etc. I've had the club and some kind of wild chicken sandwich with pineapple and gorgonzola(I think) cheeze....sounds awful but is superb. Match that with a Dogfish head or Imperial Stout and you've got yourself a good time in a fun bar/restruant. Make a point to go here if ever in the neighborhood. (825 characters)

I've been here about three times in the last 8 months or so, and I've been pleased every time.

The atmosphere is very dive bar-esque, which I personally love, sespecially since I'm from small town Western Pennsylvania, originally. You have everyone from college kids, super trendy business suit folks, and bikers, and it's all a pretty harmonious mix it seems to me.

The quality outdoes the atmosphere in that if you walked in without knowing anything, you may not know how good their selection is for such a small bar. More on that in a bit.

The service is always decent. Since it's so small, they usually have one waitress, but for dinner time it's not too hard to get a table as long as you don't have a party bigger than 4, as the tables aren't really all that huge.

For how small in size the bar is, the selection is always great. You can usually get 12 oz. glasses to pints to Imperial pints, except with the more rare Belgians and specialties, which are in 10 oz. glasses. Prices are pretty decent, ranging around $4 for a variety of taps: maybe 12-15, and all of them are pretty stellar. Also they have a wide variety of bottles. And you can see clearly on the top of the menu when they change their rotation; the numbers change, so it's fun to visit weeks or months later and see how many times the selection has changed.

I've had three different dishes in the 3 times I've been there, and all have been great. Once again, it ain't bar food, though it seems like it would be.

Overall this is a great place to have your dive bar atmosphere with the beer and food flair that many smaller bars not only don't care about, but certainly don't have. Check it out if you get the chance. (1,711 characters)

Finally made it to the Taphouse today. A snow-shortened day seemed like the perfect subtle suggestion to stop for a pint.

The physical layout is quite small. About 12 x 4-seat tables line the wall on the right. A 12-ish seat tin-covered bar on the left. 2 restrooms and a small kitchen and that's it. Very cozy. Very dark. Very "pubbish". Music is on the soft side in terms of volume (which is a big plus for me). 14 taps here plus a beer engine, no macro. About 20 bottles beers listed, including Westmalle Double, some Gale's Old from 1996 and 1998 jumped out at me. An interesting mix on the taps, with locals like Legend and Starr Hill plus some other notables like Fuller's ESB, Sierra Nevada, Snow Goose, and Guinness. Patrons were very friendly...struck up a conversation with 4 others around me who appreciated a good beer. BA.com was recognized as a place they've all visited at one time or another (gotta spread the love). A different group that what you'd see at Capital Ale House.

Staff was extremely friendly and attentive. I sat at the bar and ended up chatting with James (owner?) who spent many minutes with me discussing his operation and what was soon to be put on as well as what I'd sampled. James also is cellaring some bottles as well and will offer them up at various times once they've had a chance to age. Bottle prices are very fair.

I think they open around 4 each day.

Pints run $4.25. Mondays are half-price pints, which was a nice surprise. Live music is also on some nights.

Small place with about 12 taps. Generally, their taps are pretty good, no swill beer taking up room. Neighborhood tavern. Good wings. Overall, a place I would recommend on a pub tour. Right across the street from Retreat Hospital. I wish they would get a little more adventuresome with their tap selection, including having a few more stouts (Guniess is generally the only stout they pour from my experience). (409 characters)

I do like this place overall, but it's not really consistant. They do have a decent draft and bottled beer list. The food is so so but on par for your typical barfood style eats. The seating is limited and the place can get crowded fairly quickly on a Friday or Saturday night. I have found the staff to be either very attentive or barely noticing your existence. The latter seems to be happening more frequently so I've been going there less and less. On the plus side, their prices are quite reasonable. Check it out when in town but my suggestion is to not stay there all night. (581 characters)

Nice little place recommended to me by DrewS (who met me and Artied2 there for some brew). A bit dark, rustic-looking.... Long from front to back, with a decent bar along the left-hand side of the place. Fairly crowded, with loud rock music playing. Very nice bier menu (though unsure of the draft to bottle ratio). Hey, they had Spaten Maibock and HopDevil on tap, so there you go! A great time was had...thanks, Drew!